On Oct. 16 in Omaha, Civic Nebraska will honor six Nebraskans with Strengthening Democracy Awards for their efforts to build a more powerful democracy in the Cornhusker State. Before then, we’re sharing a bit more about each winner to share what makes them so special.

Civic Nebraska honors Nicolas Jaramillo with the 2025 Civic Catalyst Award for visionary leadership amplifying Latino voices and building institutions such as the Sí Se Puede Network and the Latino Golf Association.

Nicolas has distinguished himself as a builder of new systems, spaces, and opportunities. His nominator, Nadeli Cortez, first met him shortly after he moved from Lexington to Omaha. What stood out was not his job title, but his vision.

“On paper, he was a financial representative,” Cortez recalled. “But even in that very first conversation, it was clear: Nicolas is no ordinary professional.”

Within minutes, he was describing a bold idea to spotlight Latino-owned businesses through storytelling and media. Cortez was inspired enough to partner with him and quickly saw how Nicolas could take ideas and turn them into reality.

That collaboration grew into the Sí Se Puede Network, which features Latino business owners through professional video profiles and magazine placements, all at no cost to the entrepreneurs. Nicolas uses his technical and strategic skills to lift up others, helping them reach broader audiences and strengthening community visibility.

Then, Nicolas launched the Latino Golf Association, taking a sport where Latinos have historically been underrepresented and transforming it into a platform for inclusion, connection, and opportunity. Through tournaments, events, and mentorship, the LGA is more than a golf association. It’s a vehicle for building generational wealth, opening networks, and strengthening community leadership. As Cortez described it, “While golf is the medium, the mission runs deeper: to create institutions that empower Latinos far beyond the fairway.”

Nicolas’s entrepreneurial spirit has been evident for years. He taught himself to trade stocks while still in high school, ran a marketing company for seven years, and has built skills across finance, media, and strategy. But his nominator emphasized that what sets him apart is his drive to put knowledge into practice for the collective benefit. He identifies gaps, imagines new possibilities, and mobilizes resources with discipline and humility.

Beyond these initiatives, Nicolas serves as vice president of the Metro Young Latino Professionals Association, marketing lead for the YP Summit, and a regular volunteer with groups ranging from the United Hispanic Contractors Association to the Barrientos Scholarship Foundation.

Cortez summed it up this way: “Nicolas doesn’t wait for permission. His ideas may seem unrealistic by conventional standards, but time and again, he brings them to life with clarity, discipline, and heart. He forges connections across sectors, mobilizes resources, and inspires collaboration in ways that redefine what’s possible.”

By founding networks and institutions designed to last, Nicolas is not only responding to today’s needs but shaping the systems of tomorrow. That vision, energy, and commitment to collective impact make him a true Civic Catalyst.

Meet Nicolas and his fellow honorees at Strengthening Democracy Awards on Oct. 16. RSVP today!